(S02E20) When the season began, I had hopes that it would progress the series beyond its high school thinking and emo roots. Sadly, tonight's episode proved me wrong. It also proved that people in their mid-20's (as Clark and Chloe are, supposedly) can still act like self-absorbed teenagers until the correct, or indeed any, circumstances.I had hoped that some progress was being made in the beginning when Clark's half-eaten carcass was hanging in the Talon basement, but that ended up being a (COP OUT!) dream. I did note the red "S" symbol drawn on his chest as it was on the pilot episode of the series.
This may just be an observation on my local CW11 station, but the episode seemed to be filmed in HD (will HD dimensions) but it was only shown in 4 by 3. That kind of sucked. Some of the opening credits were cut off on the sides.
I am glad they made some progress with the Jimmy storyline. It was quite sad when he hit up Oliver for drug money. I don't think I could have tolerated "junky Jimmy" for another episode (I'm hypothesizing Jimmy's refusal of Oliver's money means he has kicked the habit). I loved how his eyes went wide when he realized that Davis was the monster that ruined his wedding. This advancement in his storyline can be juxtaposed with Chloe's lack of.
Chloe is really acting out of character and like the battered wife who continuously makes excuses for her husband's behavior (or, as I like to think of it, how Bella acts towards Edward). At this rate, she has to be the one to die at the end of the season, but that's probably what the creators behind Smallville want us to think. At the very least, she's going to betray him before the season is over. Still, going on a road trip with Doomsday is not the act of a rational person. It's the ultimate in co-dependent relationships.
At one point, I thought Davis was able to control his transformations and was only pretending to be out-of-control to be near Chloe. But, in retrospect, that doesn't seem accurate. Plus it seems a little too subtle for an obvious show such as Smallville.
Dr. Emil "Gaeta" Hamilton made a return appearance that bordered on unnecessary. Any Luthorcorp doctor could have fulfilled the same role. I can only presume that he's going to have a more significant role at some point in the remaining two episodes.
At one point in the episode, Clark wore all blue. What happened to the red?
In the dream sequence, Davis Bloome didn't bother to clean up the trail of blood. What can I say? He's a bachelor.
I hope Clark fights Davis while he's in full-on Doomsday mode on the season finale. I'd be disappointed otherwise.
They made sure to throw in a plug for careerbuilder.com in there. Smallville remains true-to-form with product placement.
All good science fiction shows generally have people react in a realistic fashion, even when they have fantasy premises. Smallville does not. I'm hoping for a pleasant surprise before the end of the season.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-01-2009 @ 9:12AM
MDR said...
Hey, the same thing happened with my local CW station. I just thought they finally got off their lazy butts and did something about their weak signal. I know they're not going full digital so hoping for Smallville in HD is out of the question.
This episode was weak and felt like a filler. Hope the finale brings together all of the superheros for a Smallville version of Death of Superman.
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5-01-2009 @ 10:11AM
bkwurm1 said...
I thought Beast was one of the best of the season. All the acting was stellar and the phone call at the end between Clark and Chloe had more drama and emotion than anything I’ve ever seen before on Smallville. Chloe is trying to save Clark. Right now she’s the only one who can. If Chloe hadn’t shown up at the Fortress, both Davis AND Clark would be stuck in the Phantom Zone. How is that high school or self absorbed? Clark knows that Chloe is turning her life over to a creature everyone fears in order to let Clark keep his “no kill” rule. That’s huge.
As for why was Clark in all blue, notice that in the same scene Chloe was in red. Together they are the hero of the show.
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5-01-2009 @ 2:11PM
ac said...
I believe Chloe when she says she is trying to protect Clark because that dream in the beginning with the crappy music proves she fears for his life. Also she fears for Davis's human form because you have to feel sort of sorry for him. So she is trying to take the road where nothing bad happens to anyone but her. And she did it in a way that seems to have pissed the viewers off to the point that they want her to die. Thats just bad writing.
Also yes Im watching this on the CW11 too and the side cut off is annoying. Also major props for the Twilight joke Brad.
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5-01-2009 @ 2:02PM
Wii60 said...
It was a pretty weak episode.
It's amazing really, this season began so well and was riding such a high until friggin Lana Lang came back. From that moment on, all character development and interesting storylines went straight to hell.
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5-01-2009 @ 3:00PM
Jake said...
1. Chloe is only acting to protect Clark, which is sort of obvious if you are paying attention and not blogging while watching the show. There is nothing co-dependent about it. Not sure how you see that, but it colors the rest of your post. Her actions are rational, voluntary, and full of sacrifice. That's POIGNANT, not unrealistic.
2. CLARK is the one who will die at the end of the season. Superman killed Doomsday in the comic (although he came back), but the fight also killed Superman. Guarantee it -- the end of the season will be a "Clark is dead" cliffhanger, with serious Chloe-guilt along for the ride.
3. Of course, that only works if he isn't as completely dead and dismembered as the armless torso at the beginning of the episode. How was that a cop out? He can't be THAT dead and then "recover" -- at least not if they are being faithful to the Superman character (who wasn't really "dead" so much as in a recovery "coma").
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5-01-2009 @ 4:01PM
Bob Crain said...
@Jake
Very good post. This Brad guy makes ridiculous statements constantly. I believe Clark will be one of the deaths but Chloe will die using her healing powers on him. The cop-out comment proves he shouldn't be writing reviews of Smallville.
5-01-2009 @ 9:20PM
Z! said...
I have to say i have not felt this good about a Smallville episode in recent memory. I just watched it on my dvr and I was compelled to comment. By the way it was in full hd for me time warner nyc. Overall this season has been a total upswing for the series, though it lagged a bit when lana was back, thank god she is gone.
I know doomsday is the ultimate enemy for superman but you cant help for feel compassion for davis's human side. And he is hot so that helps and im glad chloe is feeling him. shes such a good character and i never liked that she had to settle for jimmy. Though i do believe she is doing it cause she loves clark and wants to save him as well as her feelings for davis. That final scene with chloe and clark on the phone was awesome, it was so gut wrenching they mean so much to each other but there was such frustration and i loved clark losing control and smashing the file cabinet. Its obvious clark doesnt like sharing chloe, he was kinda jealous when she started working closer with oliver. The little love triangle is great. I hope they let us follow davis and chloe on the lam a bit.
i know someone has to die but im loving the dynamics of the whole cast right now.and im loving the increased comic book mythology but a different interpretation. only tess is expendable possibly. keep up the good work for next season please.
Oh and can we get someone who likes the show to write the reviews please.
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5-02-2009 @ 12:23AM
Riley Freeman said...
at least it wasnt a stupid freak of the week episode
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5-04-2009 @ 9:59AM
MThompson said...
I really liked this episode as well. TW really can emote when he wants to. I don't get the battered wife comparison. For one, Davis has never hurt her. The bigger reason is that Chloe isn't being deceived and she is staying with Davis to pretty much save the world. I'm glad she called out Clark on using the PZ as an easy way out. Davis still exists. Until they are out of options, trapping Davis is worse than killing him. Loved that end call between Chloe and Clark. There is an abundence of love there, on both sides.
Oh and I agree with the other poster about the significance of Clark in all blue and Chloe in red. Earlier she also wore yellow. Together they make up all the Superman colors. I've red that the Smallville people pay close attention to the color's people are wearing. I think Chloe (red=cape) complete's Clark's Superman.
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